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Open 11:00am Mon-Fri
Open 5:00pm Sat-Sun
World Cafe Live
3025 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
215-222-1400
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A Solo Acoustic Performance by Gary Lucas from Captain Beefheart's Magic Band & Special Guests Mama Kangaroos!
Though perhaps best known as an alumnus of the legendary Captain Beefheart's Magic Band, Gary Lucas has for many years led his own band, Gods and Monsters, which once included the much-missed Jeff Buckley. One of the world's most respected guitarists, he's also played on dozens of albums by artists including Buckley, John Cale, Nick Cave, Joan Osborne, Sophie B. Hawkins, and Lou Reed, among many other stellar players. Gary's most recent cd, The Edge of Heaven, a lush melodic tribute to Chinese pop music of the 1930’s, was called "simply gorgeous" by Mojo magazine. In addition to solo appearances, he's also staying quite busy with an ongoing residency at New York's Knitting Factory with Gods and Monsters, as well as shows with the re-united Magic Band, and his own Beefheart tribute project, Fast 'n Bulbous. He also gets cool gigs like a specially commissioned concert of his solo guitar arrangements of Czech music at the Czech Embassy in Washington DC in honor the 14th anniversary of their Velvet Revolution. It's safe to say Vaclav Havel is a fan.
Plus, Mama Kangaroos: Philly Women Sing Captain Beefheart
A Special Sneak Preview CD Wrap Party, featuring:
Mia Johnson Band Kiss Kiss Kill King of Siam The Jane Gilday Aquatet
Plus special guests: Tom Gillam, Lora Bloom, and more!
Mama Kangaroos: Women of Philly Sing Captain Beefheart is not only a surprisingly varied and refreshingly accessible collection of all-Philly-female covers in tribute to one of rock's most eccentric and revered figures - it just might be the strongest local compilation cd in memory. Featuring 20 genre-hopping tracks covering the entirety of the Captain's storied career, all performed by established and emerging philly female artists, the just-completed Mama Kangaroos is due for release later this spring. But Genus Records and World Cafe Live are happy to host a sneak preview of the cd, along with sets and guest appearances by some of its strongest contributors, including:
Born in the house party scene of West Philadelphia, Kiss Kiss Kill has lately been poking its head above ground with gigs at the city's establishment venues and a favorable write up in the Philadelphia Weekly. The femme vocal trio of Mandy Katz, Hannah Sassaman, and R'becca Songbird are backed up by another trio of savvy jazzers in an exploration of pop/punk/lounge that would be at home in any of the last four decades. Their charming embrace of the nearly impossible Beefheart classic "Lick My Decals Off, Baby" on Mama Kangaroos makes good clean (dirty) fun out of a song that in the end is just about getting the laundry done.
Mia Johnson is a veteran of the philly singer-songwriter scene whose recent expansion from solo artist to band leader neatly magnifies the strength and personal style already evident in her solo performances. Mia's new cd, Driver, also reflects this growth. Her version of Captain Beefheart's "Crazy Little Thing", with XPN local favorite Tom Gillam on some viciously hot slide guitar, is one of Mama Kangaroos' many highlights - and he'll be by to sit in on Mia's set.
The Jane Gilday Aquatet. Jane's sparse and poignant old-timey version of Beefheart's "Sugar Bowl" is probably the heart and soul of Mama Kangaroos. She even played all the instruments on the track and recorded it herself. But for this gig, Jane will be putting together a full band, drawing on the rich stable of musicians she's played with over the years - stretching back to her time coming up through the CBGB's scene in the seventies. Jane has a limitless musical vocabulary, and her set promises to be both utterly unpredictable and completely unique.
Closing out the show is the recently reunited King of Siam, whose return to the scene has put smiles on the faces of old time Philly music heads all across town. Sporting all new material and a fresh hunger for quirky improvisation and twisted head trips, all the years these guys have spent holed up at 5th and South running the Philadelphia Record Exchange have paid off in an inexhaustible trove of riffage and noise that is sure to amuse and entertain. For Mama Kangaroos, they were joined by Big Mess Orchestra's Wendy Bell for a Pogues-inspired take on the Beefheart spoken word piece "Orange Claw Hammer".
Mama Kangaroos: Philly Women Sing Captain Beefheart, with its challenging material, often inspired performances, and diversity of style, will definitely be one of the most compelling local releases this year. Come out and get the first listen, and catch acclaimed Beefheart guitarist Gary Lucas in Upstairs Live!
